Pray.Bake.Read. is a brilliantly simple way of encouraging churches to better connect with their local schools, easily summarised as the following;

PRAY... intentionally for your local school

BAKE... a cake for the staff each half term

READ... 1:1 with a student once a week

(You can see this summarised much more neatly on a simple poster here)

We are delighted that you are exploring this as a means of connecting with your local schools. There is no subscription charge for using Pray.Bake.Read but we do ask that in all your publicity that you include a link to the Pray.Bake.Read facebook page here and acknowledge Libby Leech as the founder of the initiative.

Libby is part of the diocesan Reaching New Generations team and currently our Interim 5-10s and Schools Enabler. She would love to hear about where you are sharing the Pray.Bake.Read love so please let her know about your story here.

Teresa Nixon (The Children's Outreach Worker at St John's Church Hartford, near Northwich in Cheshire) has shared an explanation of what it's all about from the point of view of both Churches and Schools.

Teresa has also shared the following lovely little quote; "St John's Church is surrounded by many schools and we felt strongly that this is a key area of mission for us. The Pray Bake Read scheme enables us to encourage members of the congregation to use their skills, time and prayers to become more involved in this part of our local community. The schools, which include community primaries, a Church of England High School and a school for boys with behavioural issues, have been very appreciative of the support. Particularly encouraging is the chance to show the boys who are mainly from unstable family backgrounds, that there are people who care about them enough to spend time with them. We see it as a real opportunity to make links, grow relationships and be visible as Christians in our local schools."

If you would like further support or you would like Libby to come and speak at your church, group or P/DCC then do not hesitate in getting in touch; email or ring 07891 290564.